Chapter 74 Chapter 25.2
I waited patiently for my son to heal. It wasn’t easy, his weight had suddenly dropped, and every day felt like a battle between my fear and the strength I forced myself to show. Whenever they had to give him a blood transfusion, I fought back the urge to cry. I had to be strong for him.
But nothing compared to the joy I felt when I saw him without any tubes.
For the first time, I could see his face clearly.
He still couldn’t make a sound even without the tube, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was his progress. He was nearing his third month in the hospital, and though I wished we could go home by then, I didn’t mind staying longer if it meant he would fully recover.
He had grown up inside the hospital. And every time I visited him, the nurses would let me carry him, which only made me more excited for each visit.
Time flew quickly. Another visiting hour passed, and I stepped out of the ICU, only to be surprised to see Mommy Shiermy waiting for me.
“Mom,” I breathed. She stood up, greeting me with a warm smile.
“I talked to Daryl’s doctor. Is it true he’s off the tubes now? He can breathe on his own?”
I nodded, and relief softened her features. “That’s wonderful news. It feels so good knowing he’s finally getting better.”
We left the ICU together and found a nearby coffee shop to sit and talk.
“How are you? Are you still eating properly? You’ve lost weight,” she said, concern evident in her voice.
“I’m fine, Mom. Don’t worry about me,” I replied.
But deep inside, my mind drifted to Desmond again. How was he now? Was he happy when I disappeared from his life? Did he finally get the freedom he and Macie wanted?
“By the way,” she continued, “the chairman knows Daryl is alive. So does Mommy Mariam.”
My heart tightened with fear. What if Desmond found out too?
“Don’t worry,” she reassured me quickly. “They didn’t tell him either. But… we hardly see Desmond at the company these days. We don’t even know where he is. His father and the chairman are furious, but he doesn’t seem to care anymore. Last thing I heard, Macie went back to France. As for Desmond, no one knows where he is. He doesn’t even go home to your house, but he keeps sending cleaners to maintain it. I don’t know what to do with my son anymore, Heaven. Honestly, I almost told him Daryl was alive, but the more he acts like this, the angrier I get.”
I smiled faintly and sipped my coffee.
Was it possible he left and followed Macie to France?
My chest ached. Our marriage still ended in separation. And if he was happy with Macie… then what reason would he have to fight for us anymore?
We continued talking about Daryl, his condition, my plans once he was discharged. When our conversation ended, I went straight home to my apartment.
A week before Daryl’s third month in the hospital, I received a call from the ICU head nurse. My hands trembled as soon as I heard her tone.
“Is it happening now?” I asked, breathless.
“Yes, ma’am. You need to come here right away.”
My emotions clashed, excitement, fear, anxiety. I was thrilled because it meant I could finally be with him for 24 hours in a ward. But I was afraid too. What if I couldn’t handle it? What if something happened and I didn’t know what to do?
I hurriedly packed both my things and his, then rushed to the hospital.
I waited in the designated area, cold from the air-conditioning and from my own nerves.
Thirty minutes later, a nurse finally called me.
I stood up as they wheeled out Daryl’s bed, one doctor and four nurses walking with him. I followed behind, my heart pounding.
I would finally get to hold my son whenever I wanted.
Once we reached the private room, I looked at him closely. I wanted to carry him, yet fear held me back. What if I hurt him? There were barely any wires attached to him now. The silence felt unreal. After months of constant beeping in the ICU, the quiet was overwhelming.
He cried again, soundless still, and I panicked. How would I even know he was crying if I fell asleep?
I carefully lifted him. Even now, he felt like a new baby in my arms each time. He kept crying, so I rocked him gently until he settled. A small smile tugged at my lips. He knew I was his mother.
“Hi, baby,” I whispered. “I’m so happy to see you. You’re so strong. You fought so hard. Don’t leave Mommy, okay?”
He yawned, and I let out a soft chuckle.
“I love you so much, my Daryl,” I said before kissing his forehead.
It still felt like a dream, holding him like this.
Ever since he was moved to the ward, I had barely slept. Fear kept my eyes open. What if he cried and I didn’t hear him? What if his heartbeat dropped and I didn’t notice?
I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t. Even exhausted, my eyes remained open. I kept checking if he was still breathing.
My son was finally with me.
And I wasn’t going to lose him again.